Deputy, Brother Guilty In Loan Fraud

A Broward County sheriff's deputy and his brother pleaded guilty in Miami federal court Thursday to participating in a car loan scheme that reaped more than $200,000.

Joaquin Pimentel, of Hialeah, admitted that in February 2002 he obtained the vehicle number for a wrecked Nissan Altima and used the number to secure a $19,500 car loan from Bank of America. Pimentel, who was hired in 2001 as a guard in the Broward County Jail, tendered his resignation last week.

His brother, Edward Luis Pimentel, of Homestead, and a former detective with the Miccosukee Police Department, also pleaded guilty to being part of the scheme. He used the vehicle number for a wrecked 2001 Ford Expedition to apply for a car loan at Coconut Grove Bank in May 2002.

The brothers, scheduled for sentencing March 30, each face a maximum prison sentence of five years and a possible fine of up to $250,000. They each have agreed to pay $205,841 in restitution.

Prosecutors have not accused the brothers of using their law enforcement posts to carry out the scheme.

"He was trying to help out a friend and mistakes were made," Clavejo said.

That friend, Juan Antonio Azize, pleaded guilty to bank fraud and money laundering charges last year and was sentenced to 30 months in prison. He was charged with orchestrating eight fraudulent car loans using the numbers from wrecked vehicles.